For many families, finding the right educational environment is one of the most critical decisions we’ll make. Thankfully, we are living in a period when the range of options is expanding exponentially. One of the drivers of this is the school choice movement, which, in turn has driven the rise of voucher programs and Educational Savings Accounts or ESAs.
In the following post we’ll explore this brave new world of school choice, break down ESAs, and talk about how this might impact working with us.
A Brief History of School Choice and ESAs
The term school choice refers to the ability of families to use public funds to pay for private school. It isn’t a new concept. It goes back decades, or even centuries, depending on how you track it. (The Cato Institute has a great school choice timeline and definition.) But, in recent years programs that allow parents to access tax credits and/or vouchers, have gained steam, including the rise recently of state-provided Education Savings Accounts or ESAs.
ESAs are a relatively new and rapidly growing element of school choice. The first ESA program appeared in Arizona in 2011, offering parents direct access to public funds to use to pay for private school. Since then, numerous states have implemented similar programs, reflecting a significant shift in educational policy nationwide.
Recently, when asked what issue he thought was the most important in the U.S. today, Reed Hastings, the founder and former CEO of Netflix, said school choice. Here more of his comments on this Knowledge Project episode.
What Exactly is an Educational Savings Account?
It’s important to clear up a common confusion: state-sponsored Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) differ from Coverdell ESAs. While Coverdell ESAs are privately funded savings accounts offering tax advantages for educational expenses, state-sponsored ESAs use public funds provided directly to families to pay for approved educational services and materials.
Often, as is the case with Missouri’s Close the Gap program, there are various tests, like means testing, that a family has to go through in order to qualify. For example, in Missouri, a child must either already have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the school system or the family must total annual income less than 3 times the free-and-reduced lunch threshold. Currently, this is $90k).
Conversely, Florida, which originally had a means test for its programs, removed that condition in 2023 and now offers an ESA for all residents.
Through an ESA, parents typically receive funds in an account, which they can use for tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, curriculum materials, and more. More and more, families are using these funds for homeschooling and microschools.
Popular ESAs
Currently 13 states offer ESA programs.
| State | ESA Program |
|---|---|
| Alabama | ESA (Choose Act) |
| Arizona | Arizona ESA |
| Arkansas | Arkansas ESA |
| Florida | Family Empowerment Scholarship |
| Iowa | Iowa ESA |
| Indiana | Indiana ESA |
| Louisiana | Louisiana ESA |
| Mississippi | Mississippi ESA |
| Missouri | MOScholars ESA |
| Montana | Montana ESA |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire ESA |
| South Carolina | SC ESA |
| Utah | Utah ESA |
| West Virginia | WV ESA |
| Wyoming | Wyoming ESA |
Cicero is currently an approved vendor in three of these:
ESA Approved Programs
One key piece of the puzzle is that most ESA programs have a vendor vetting process, which restricts how families can use the funds. Through these, vendors—schools, online programs, tutoring, educational materials—usually have to demonstrate that they are in alignment with the state’s curriculum requirements and standards, as well as provide background checks, business registration, and so forth.
For example, in Missouri, vendors have to provide a curriculum or course description outlining clear educational objectives, and also provide proof of instructional quality (accreditation, teacher credentials, or professional experience).
Cicero, an Approved Vendor
Cicero Learning is proud to be an approved ESA vendor in Iowa, Missouri, and Florida. Families in these states can directly use their ESA funds to access our personalized, one-to-one courses, connecting students with expert teachers in a wide range of subjects.
How Families Can Get Started
- Verify ESA Eligibility: Check your state’s ESA program guidelines through resources like Ed Choice to ensure you live in a state that supports school choice via ESAs.
- Enroll in the ESA Program: Follow your state’s application procedure to set up your ESA account.
- Choose Cicero Learning: Once approved, simply select Cicero Learning as your education provider and begin scheduling courses directly through our platform.
The Future of Education is Personal
As school choice continues to evolve, Cicero Learning is committed to helping families navigate and maximize their educational opportunities. ESAs represent more than just educational flexibility—they’re a step toward genuinely personalized learning journeys, driven by intellectual curiosity and individual needs.
